Mike Smyth: Opponents anxious as referendum campaign set to start

Bill Tieleman, president of the No B.C. PR Society, says opponents of proportional representation 'still don't know the basic rules and regulations, including how the campaigns will be financed.'Jason Payne / PNG

Columnist Mike Smyth writes about the referendum on proportional representation.

A mad scramble is underway in Victoria to get everything in place for a referendum that could fundamentally overhaul our province’s system of democracy.

But even though the referendum on proportional representation officially kicks off on July 1 — less than two weeks away — the referendum regulations are still being developed by the government.

For opponents of pro rep, it’s just one more reason to distrust a referendum they believe is stacked against them.

“This gives a new definition to ‘flying by the seat of your pants’,” grumbled Bill Tieleman, president of the No B.C. PR Society.

“There’s less than two weeks to go and we still don’t know the basic rules and regulations, including how the campaigns will be financed.”

July 1 marks the start of the official campaign period for a referendum that will be decided in November by a mail-in vote.

British Columbians will decide whether to keep the current first-past-the-post voting system for electing MLAs, or switch to proportional representation, a system the opposition Liberals say would help the governing NDP-Green alliance keep their grip on power.

The NDP government has already announced that one group on each side will be designated as an “official proponent” and receive $500,000 to run their campaigns.

But, so far, there’s been no announcement on how groups will apply to be the official proponent, how they will be chosen, or when they will get the money.

“We are expecting cabinet to make decisions on regulations very soon,” the ministry of the attorney general said in a statement Monday, adding Elections B.C. will choose the official proponent groups.

“We’ll apply to be the official proponent as soon as they tell us how,” Tieleman said.

But, as officials scramble, some groups aren’t waiting for the starting gun to fire.

An anti-pro-rep group called Fair Referendum — led by businessman Jim Shepard, a prominent B.C. Liberal — has already launched an ad campaign calling for the referendum to be scrapped.

The timing of the campaign is strategic because rules around funding sources and spending limits won’t kick in until the official campaign period begins.

“I’m not surprised they’re trying to spend as much as they can before spending limits apply,” said Maria Dobrinskaya of the Vote PR B.C. group.

Starting July 1, the official campaigns will be able to spend the $500,000 each of taxpayers’ money. Other groups will be required to register and face a $200,000 spending limit.

Groups will be allowed to accept campaign donations from individuals only, with a ban on corporate and union donations.

The No side had opposed that last part, arguing corporations and unions should be allowed to donate.

“Big money controlled the system for a long time and now big money is trying to keep the status quo in place,” Dobrinskaya said, adding she’s not worried about the delay in drafting the referendum regulations.

Watch for those regulations to be announced this week — and for the referendum fight to get nasty.

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